The power of bridging decision scales: Model coupling for advanced climate policy analysis

Tatiana Filatova (), Joos Akkerman, Francesco Bosello, Theodoros Chatzivasileiadis, Ignasi Cortés Arbués, Amineh Ghorbani, Olga Ivanova, Nina Knittel, Jan Kwakkel, Francesco Lamperti, Nicholas R. Magliocca, Giacomo Marangoni, Stefan Nabernegg, Anton Pichler, Adrian Poujon, Karolina Safarzynska, Alessandro Taberna, Mariësse A. E. van Sluisveld, Liz Verbeek and Taoyuan Wei
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Tatiana Filatova: a Multi Actor Systems Department, Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management, Delft University of Technology , Delft 2628 BX , The Netherlands
Joos Akkerman: a Multi Actor Systems Department, Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management, Delft University of Technology , Delft 2628 BX , The Netherlands
Francesco Bosello: d Department of Environmental Sciences Informatics and Statistics, Ca’ Foscari University , Venice 30172 , Italy
Theodoros Chatzivasileiadis: a Multi Actor Systems Department, Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management, Delft University of Technology , Delft 2628 BX , The Netherlands
Ignasi Cortés Arbués: a Multi Actor Systems Department, Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management, Delft University of Technology , Delft 2628 BX , The Netherlands
Amineh Ghorbani: a Multi Actor Systems Department, Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management, Delft University of Technology , Delft 2628 BX , The Netherlands
Olga Ivanova: e PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency , The Hague 2594 AV , The Netherlands
Nina Knittel: f Economics of Climate and Environmental Change Group, Wegener Center for Climate and Global Change, University of Graz , Graz 8010 , Austria
Jan Kwakkel: a Multi Actor Systems Department, Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management, Delft University of Technology , Delft 2628 BX , The Netherlands
Francesco Lamperti: g Institute of Economics, Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies , Pisa 56127 , Italy
Nicholas R. Magliocca: h Department of Geography, University of Alabama , Tuscaloosa , AL 35401-0322
Giacomo Marangoni: c Resources for the Future and Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change Foundation European Institute on Economics and the Environment , Milan 20144 , Italy
Stefan Nabernegg: f Economics of Climate and Environmental Change Group, Wegener Center for Climate and Global Change, University of Graz , Graz 8010 , Austria
Anton Pichler: i Institute for Transport and Logistics Management, Vienna University of Economics and Business, Vienna 1020, & Complexity Science Hub Vienna , Vienna 1030 , Austria
Adrian Poujon: a Multi Actor Systems Department, Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management, Delft University of Technology , Delft 2628 BX , The Netherlands
Karolina Safarzynska: j Department of Political Economy, Faculty of Economic Sciences, University of Warsaw , Warsaw 00241 , Poland
Alessandro Taberna: c Resources for the Future and Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change Foundation European Institute on Economics and the Environment , Milan 20144 , Italy
Mariësse A. E. van Sluisveld: e PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency , The Hague 2594 AV , The Netherlands
Liz Verbeek: a Multi Actor Systems Department, Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management, Delft University of Technology , Delft 2628 BX , The Netherlands
Taoyuan Wei: k Center for International Climate Research , Oslo 0318 , Norway

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2025, vol. 122, issue 38, e2411592122

Abstract:

Climate policy faces increasingly complex challenges that span multiple human decision scales in nature–society systems. Contemporary climate policy models, while valuable and increasingly versatile in handling spatial and temporal scales, struggle to capture interacting multiscale decisions on the socioeconomic side. This perspective draws attention to the power of coupling among different modeling families, taking integrated assessment models (IAM), computable general equilibrium models (CGE), and agent-based models (ABM) as examples. Recent computational advances, maturity of models, availability of data, and interdisciplinary expertise make model coupling an increasingly feasible, effective, and useful tool for climate policy analysis. We examine the unique contributions of each modeling approach, highlight synergies from uniting their strengths, and discuss alternatives to and conditions for coupling. In addressing methodological challenges, we present examples of effective coupling of IAM–ABM–CGE, emphasizing the importance of maintaining model integrity while enhancing policy relevance. By bridging human decision scales and leveraging complementary strengths, coupled models can provide nuanced insights into climate–economy interactions, ultimately supporting effective and equitable—not just efficient and optimal—climate policies.

Keywords: IAM CGE ABM; behavior; mitigation; adaptation; finance (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:nas:journl:v:122:y:2025:p:e2411592122

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